Method of mounting a roof structure

Abstract

For an enclosure including a ground area (2), a spectator area (3) around the ground area and a plurality of bearing points (12) around and above the spectator area, the method of mounting a roof structure comprises: assembling a tension ring (14) at the level of the ground area, the tension ring comprising at least one first cable extending along the tension ring and a plurality of connectors (15) spaced along the tension ring; attaching a plurality of second cables (13) to the plurality of connectors, each second cable having a first end connected to a respective one of the connectors and extending radially and outwardly from the tension ring, each second cable being associated with a respective one of the bearing points (12); and lifting the tension ring by pulling the connectors (15) by the second cables (13).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of mounting a roof structure for an enclosure,
 the enclosure including a ground area, a spectator area around the ground area and a plurality of bearing points around and above the spectator area, 
 the method comprising:
 assembling a tension ring at the level of the ground area, the tension ring comprising at least one first cable extending along the tension ring and a plurality of connectors spaced along the tension ring; 
 attaching a plurality of second cables to the plurality of connectors, each second cable having a first end connected to a respective one of the connectors and extending radially and outwardly from the tension ring, each second cable being associated with a respective one of the bearing points; and 
 lifting the tension ring by pulling the connectors by the second cables. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein a perimeter of the tension ring increases when the tension ring is lifted. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 disposing a third cable along the tension ring at the level of the ground area, such that the perimeter of the tension ring is defined by the third cable; and 
 feeding additional length of the third cable along the tension ring when the tension ring is lifted to increase the perimeter of the tension ring. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 wherein the at least one first cable is disposed in a loose state when the tension ring is assembled at the level of the ground area and becomes tensioned by the pulling action of the second cables once the perimeter of the tension ring has increased up to a maximum value. 
 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 wherein the at least one first cable is disposed to have a sinuous path when the tension ring is assembled at the level of the ground area. 
 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 wherein the third cable is mounted on deviators attached to front sides of the connectors. 
 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 3 ,
 wherein feeding additional length of the third cable along the tension ring is performed by using a strand jack mounted on the third cable when the third cable is disposed along the tension ring at the level of the ground area. 
 
     
     
       8. The method as claimed in  claim 2 ,
 wherein the at least one first cable has a plurality of segments following each other along the tension ring and is equipped with couplers for assembling the segments, 
 wherein at least one of the couplers comprises:
 a first coupling part attached to an end of a first segment of the at least one first cable and having a first abutment surface; 
 a second coupling part attached to an end of a second segment of the at least one first cable and having a second abutment surface facing the first abutment surface, 
 
 wherein the first and second abutment surfaces are brought closer to each other when the tension ring is lifted. 
 
     
     
       9. The method as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first and second abutment surfaces are brought closer to each other by using a strand jack connected to the first and second coupling parts. 
 
     
     
       10. The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein lifting the tension ring includes at least one iteration of a first phase of pulling the second cables while keeping a constant perimeter of the tension ring, whereby an inclination angle of the second cables decreases and the tension ring is lifted, followed by a second phase of increasing the perimeter of the tension ring. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 wherein the second cables are not pulled in the second phase, whereby an inclination angle of the second cables increases and the tension ring is lowered, and 
 wherein, in each iteration, the inclination angle of the second cables decreases more in the first phase than it increases in the second phase, and the tension ring is lifted in the first phase more than it is lowered in the second phase. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as claimed in  claim 10 ,
 further comprising, after the at least one iteration, a final phase of pulling the second cables while keeping a constant perimeter of the tension ring. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein additional cables are disposed across the ground area and connected to the tension ring. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as claimed in any  claim 1 ,
 wherein after the tension ring is lifted, the second cables are anchored at the bearing points. 
 
     
     
       15. The method as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein after the tension ring is lifted, the second cables are anchored at positions spaced apart from the bearing points and deviated at the bearing points.